CHICAGO – Saint Xavier University former standout quarterback Jimmy Coy (Park Ridge, Ill./Valdosta State/El Camino College/Maine South) signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) Sunday and became the first Cougar football player to sign a professional football contract.  The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to the National Football League (NFL) in the United States.  Its eight teams, which are located in eight separate cities throughout Canada, are divided into two divisions of four teams each, the East Division and the West Division.  The league's 19-week regular season runs from late June to early November with each team playing 18 games with a bye week.  As per the Stampeders' policy, terms of Coy's agreement were not disclosed.

CHICAGO - Saint Xavier University former standout quarterback Jimmy Coy (Park Ridge, Ill./Valdosta State/El Camino College/Maine South) was invited to try out in a Chicago Bears rookie mini-camp this May.  The 6-0, 210 pound signal caller was named the 2012 NAIA Football National Player of the Year back in December and helped the Cougars win the University's first national championship back in December 2011 when he was named the Outstanding Offensive Player of the Game.  Coy showcased his skill sets at Northwestern's Pro Day in March and drew the interest of a number of pro scouts.

Westchester, Ill. – Saint Xavier University senior wide receiver Shane Zackery (Rockford, Ill./Boylan Catholic) was honored by The National Football Foundation (NFF) Chicago Metro Chapter earlier this week when he received the Chapter's Mental Toughness Award Monday evening in Westchester, Ill.  Zackery was one of three local collegiate football players to receive the award joining Northern Illinois defensive tackle Nabal Jefferson and Northwestern University offensive tackle Patrick Ward.  Last December, Zackery became the first football player in SXU history to be named one of 15 finalists for the 2012 NFF's National Scholar-Athlete Class and made the trip to New York City to be honored at the 55th Annual NFF Awards Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.